I'm So Sorry, Glasgow
I have had a really busy day, but I have now read all the media coverage of Richard Leonard's statement about equal pay claimants in Glasgow City Council being owed an apology, one that is long overdue if you ask me.
The following BBC report is as good as any and the key words spoken by the Scottish Labour leader seem to be as follows:
"Many equal pay claims were settled under Labour in Glasgow, but there was too much resistance, too much legal obstruction and for that I think we owe those women an apology."
Now I agree with Richard about the need for an apology because Glasgow City Council did not stumble into this situation without careful thought and forward planning.
The City Council knew it was 'bang to rights' back in 2005 when Action 4 Equality Scotland (A4ES) appeared on the scene and started to explain to low paid women workers that their jobs were being hugely undervalued and underpaid.
But the response of the council leadership (politicians and officials) was not to put eerie hands up and admit what was going on - what they did was to 'dupe' the women out of their right to equal pay.
Firstly, by offering cash 'buy-outs' of their existing equal pay claims (in 2005) which were capped at a derisory maximum of just £9,000 - a scheme which was not based on hours worked and excluded lots of female dominated groups.
Secondly, by bringing in an untried and untested WPBR pay scheme from an external consultant (Hays HR Consulting and a chap called Steve Watson) instead of using the Gauge Scheme recommended by the Scottish council employers (via COSLA) and the national trade unions - GMB, Unison and Unite.
Thirdly, by setting up a range of ALEOs (Arm's Length External Organisations) in a cynical effort to stop the female claimants from comparing their earnings with the much higher pay of traditional male jobs.
In other words a great deal of effort and careful planning has gone into cheating Glasgow's lowest paid women workers out of their basic employment rights.
So the big question is: Who is going to apologise and what exactly will they apologise for?
If you ask me, Glasgow's chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell should be handed this task because she has been a very senior official in Glasgow City Council throughout the whole time - unlike other people (some of whom have departed the scene) Annemarie has nowhere to hide.
Although it does have to be said that the real test for the council lies not just in saying sorry, but in putting things right which has to mean:
- getting rid of and replacing the WPBR
- compensating the claimants for their loss
- dismantling Glasgow City Council's ALEOs
Leonard: Labour owes Glasgow equal pay women an apology
Image copyright - PA
The Scottish Labour leader has said women in Glasgow City Council are owed an apology for "too much resistance" to their equal pay claims when the local authority was under Labour control.
Richard Leonard said Labour settled many equal pay claims but there was "too much legal obstruction".
The party was in power in the city for decades before being ousted by the SNP last May.
He was speaking to the party's Women's Conference in Glasgow.
The council dropped its legal challenge in January with cross-party agreement.
It had previously lost a Court of Session appeal against an Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling that they had continued to discriminate against women through the introduction of payment protections upholding the earnings of male colleagues following the initial wave of equal pay awards.
The Scottish Labour leader has said women in Glasgow City Council are owed an apology for "too much resistance" to their equal pay claims when the local authority was under Labour control.
Richard Leonard said Labour settled many equal pay claims but there was "too much legal obstruction".
The party was in power in the city for decades before being ousted by the SNP last May.
He was speaking to the party's Women's Conference in Glasgow.
The council dropped its legal challenge in January with cross-party agreement.
It had previously lost a Court of Session appeal against an Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling that they had continued to discriminate against women through the introduction of payment protections upholding the earnings of male colleagues following the initial wave of equal pay awards.
Unison said the women want a fair and transparent pay scheme and compensation and that the council has agreed to discuss a settlement for the 11,000 claimants with it and other trade unions.
Mr Leonard said: "I am pleased that we are now on the right side of the argument with equal pay in Glasgow City Council.
"Many equal pay claims were settled under Labour in Glasgow, but there was too much resistance, too much legal obstruction and for that I think we owe those women an apology."
He emphasised plans to tackle discrimination and harassment within Scottish Labour and wider society in the wake of the sexual harassment scandals at Westminster and Holyrood.
Mr Leonard said: "I am pleased that we are now on the right side of the argument with equal pay in Glasgow City Council.
"Many equal pay claims were settled under Labour in Glasgow, but there was too much resistance, too much legal obstruction and for that I think we owe those women an apology."
He emphasised plans to tackle discrimination and harassment within Scottish Labour and wider society in the wake of the sexual harassment scandals at Westminster and Holyrood.
Image copyright - PA Image caption -- Hundreds of women - some dressed as suffragettes - marched through Glasgow calling for equal pay from the council earlier this month
His focus on discrimination follows his leadership rival and fellow MSP Anas Sarwar speaking out about his own experiences of abuse and criticism of Mr Leonard's decision not to suspend MP Hugh Gaffney, who apologised earlier this month after making "deeply offensive and unacceptable" remarksabout the LGBT community and Chinese people.
Scottish Labour has announced plans to set-up a special sub-committee of the party's Scottish executive to develop an anti-discrimination and harassment policy.
Mr Leonard said: "Over the past few months the culture of politics, particularly in relation to gender equality, has rightly come under the spotlight.
"Politicians - including some in the Labour party - have been found to engage in behaviour, that falls well below the standards we in this room, and in this party and in this movement, expect and deserve.
"There has, once again, been a breakdown of trust between politicians and those they hope to serve. So my job, our job is to work to rebuild that trust.
"We will work to ensure women across Scotland know that the Labour Party stands up for them. We will work to end discrimination both within the party and without."
He added: "Scottish Labour, under my leadership, will be at the forefront of the drive for equality."
Mr Leonard said he had already taken steps to make the party more equal, adding: "That action comes from the one driving principle - that there is no place for any form of discrimination in the Labour Party, be it sexism, be it homophobia, be it racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia."
His focus on discrimination follows his leadership rival and fellow MSP Anas Sarwar speaking out about his own experiences of abuse and criticism of Mr Leonard's decision not to suspend MP Hugh Gaffney, who apologised earlier this month after making "deeply offensive and unacceptable" remarksabout the LGBT community and Chinese people.
Scottish Labour has announced plans to set-up a special sub-committee of the party's Scottish executive to develop an anti-discrimination and harassment policy.
Mr Leonard said: "Over the past few months the culture of politics, particularly in relation to gender equality, has rightly come under the spotlight.
"Politicians - including some in the Labour party - have been found to engage in behaviour, that falls well below the standards we in this room, and in this party and in this movement, expect and deserve.
"There has, once again, been a breakdown of trust between politicians and those they hope to serve. So my job, our job is to work to rebuild that trust.
"We will work to ensure women across Scotland know that the Labour Party stands up for them. We will work to end discrimination both within the party and without."
He added: "Scottish Labour, under my leadership, will be at the forefront of the drive for equality."
Mr Leonard said he had already taken steps to make the party more equal, adding: "That action comes from the one driving principle - that there is no place for any form of discrimination in the Labour Party, be it sexism, be it homophobia, be it racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia."
